Quotes About Ethics

United States military profession as early as 1863 in General Order number 100 of the United States Army Field Manual: "Men who take up arms against another in public war do not cease on this account to be moral beings responsible to one another." Individuals always remain ethically responsible for their actions, for the choices they make among conflicting moral obligations, as well as for the consequences which result from them.

One hoary investment company story describes a young broker asking an old one about the secret to his success. The latter replies, "It's simple; over the years I've slowly transferred my client's assets to my own name.

That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong.

Nations begin to dig their own graves when men talk more of human rights and less of human duties.

The best argument I know for an immortal life is the existence of a man who deserves one.

The moral flabbiness born of the exclusive worship of the bitch-goddess success. That—with the squalid cash interpretation put on the word success—is our national disease.

There is but one unconditional commandment, which is that we should seek incessantly, with fear and trembling, so to vote and to act as to bring about the very largest total universe of good which we can see.

This life is worth living, we can say, since it is what we make it, from the moral point of view.

The concrete man has but one interest—to be right. That to him is the art of all arts, and all means are fair which help him to it.

An act has no ethical quality whatever unless it be chosen out of several all equally possible.

We can act as if there were a God; feel as if we were free; consider Nature as if she were full of special designs; lay plans as if we were to be immortal; and we find then that these words do make a genuine difference in our moral life.

The moral flabbiness born of the bitch-goddess SUCCESS. That — with the squalid interpretation put on the word success — is our national disease.

Religion, whatever it is, is a man's total reaction upon life.

The difference between a good man and a bad man is the choice of cause.

The poor man who takes property by force is called a thief, but the creditor who can by legislation make a debtor pay a dollar twice as large as he borrowed is lauded as the friend of a sound currency. The man who wants the people to destroy the Government is an anarchist, but the man who wants the Government to destroy the people is a patriot.

There is no place for the drone in human society, and as public opinion becomes more enlightened we shall give less regard to those, however refined or well educated, who consult their own pleasure at the expense of others and more consideration to the bread-winners whose hands are calloused and whose brows are acquainted with perspiration.

How lonely life is when one prefers money to morals.

No one can earn a million dollars honestly.

He that lies with the dogs, riseth with the fleas.

Cruelty to dumb animals is one of the distinguishing vices of low and base minds. Wherever it is found, it is a certain mark of ignorance and meanness; a mark which all the external advantages of wealth, splendour, and nobility, cannot obliterate. It is consistent neither with learning nor true civility.

Well-lit streets discourage sin, but don't overdo it.

Conscience was a devil that plagued the individual. Collectively, a people squashed it as easily as stepping on a daisy.

It's not a question anymore of fishing," Sam spoke up. "It's a question of what's right, Cork. We've bent like reeds in a river for generations, bent so far over we've just about forgot how to stand up straight. Look at us now. None of us has ever been so proud of being a Shinnob.

The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.